The Care-taker's Diary
Haller Park's Younger Sister
November 23, 2007

The Forest Trails

The Forest Trails located 1km from Haller Park, is a rare facility designed specifically for recreation. Started in the early 90's the Forest Trails started of as a 1 million trees project hence its name. The aim was to use rehabilitated quarries and mining reserve land to provide wood fuel for the cement kilns and the local communities, and building timber for local industries and the community as well. To date some of the original poineer trees the casaurinas still stand tall though the park is now used primarily for recreation as most of the area is still being quarried.

Some of the features include

THE TRAILS

There are four carefully designed trails meandering through the lush dense forest for the visitors and their pets pleasure

The 3.6km Leisure walk enables visitors to see alternating landscapes from empty quarries to lush forest, lakes, streams, palm grooves and plantations of indigenous trees.

Canadian Team training for the IAAF cross country champioship in Kenya The Canadian Cross Country team at the Forest Trails


 

You can keep fit on the jungle jogging trail that’s 4 km or bike and exercise it through Vitapacour Trail that’s 1.7 km or for the really fit the 10km bic-athalon.  Lucky cyclists may meet the Eland and Oryx herd, meet Bushbucks or Duikers or sight some of the 180 documented bird species found in the rehabilitated quarries.

 Duiker in the trails

THE BUTTERFLY PAVILION

The serene Butterfly Pavilion started in 1998 allows even the seasoned guests the opportunity of appreciating the butterflies in their lovely iridescent colours there are over 40 species found here.

Butterflies in Forest Trails

 Butterfly in the Pavilion 

 THE SUNSET TERRACE

The Sunset Terrace a serene environment for one to commune with nature. A beautiful platform hangs over a lake teeming with fish, just the place to to cool off after a long hard day.

 Children at the Sunset Terrace feeding fish

THE CHILDRENS PLAYGROUND

The children's playground at Forest Trails is just the place to take the kids here the kids not only play but also take time out to learn about trees and butterflies

Children at the Forest Trails PlaygroundChildren at the Forest Trails Playground

and finally meet the Boss

THE BOSS

Lafarge Eco Systems Chief Operating Officer

Meet Sabine Baer, the Chief Operating Officer Lafarge Eco Systems she has been with us since the late 80's. Sabine has a wealth of knowledge and experience in rehabilitation and ecosystems management.

 
Comments
Cindy, Alabama
My daughter just read the book Owen & Mzee. I read her the blog but she still has questions. What happened after Owen met Cleo? Is Mzee out of the picture now? Do they spend any time together anymorer? Are they still friendly to each other?
Jim from Mass USA
Stephen's birthday is December 10th ... if you want to send him a card, his address is ... MR. STEPHEN TUEI, CHIEF ANIMAL CARETAKER, LAFARGE ECO SYSTEMS (HALLER PARK), P. O. BOX 81995-80100 (BAMBURI), MOMBASA, KENYA.
Chris from Los Angeles
Thank you so much, Sabine...my visits to Haller Park have been important to me. While I am very interested in the happenings of Owen and Mzee, I am equally interested in what's going on in the park. If I get lucky, I will be able to visit you...if not, I will be able to join you through you blogs. Thank you for continuing them. Chris in Los Angeles
Lisa from Boston MA, USA
WOW!!! Thanks!!! Beautiful photos - and what a great close up of the butterfly! It was wonderful to have a little mini-vacation in the park - thank you and welcome to the blog Sabine! Lisa
Jo from Plain City
I will look forward to seeing Mzee and Stephen. I will look for them next week. We just got so used to Stephen filling us in on Haller so we miss him. I do love seeing the rest of Haller Park. I started reading this blog for Owen & Mzee. It has become so much more. But I still want to hear about how Owen is doing with Cleo. It looks like Cleo is so much happier with Owen for company.
Sandy from Dallas, TX
The reclamation work of the quarries is wonderful. What a great reuse of land and resources. The animals flourish, the trails allow for human interaction as well. The little Duiker is a beautiful animal! And the family portrait from the previous blog is wonderful. Thanks so much for keeping us updated about the wonderful things in Haller Park and surrounding areas.
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Good points, Daria. I especially like the image of us as greedy monkeys! I miss Stephen AND I'm glad to meet some of the other team people too!
Daria from Boston, MA
Wow! Cool place. I know it's work for you Sabine, but it still looks like a fun place to be to me! Did they actually plant a million trees? And, gentle friends, let's not worry about Stephen. Remember, this blog was a lot of work for him and the editorial 'team' was enlisted to give him a break. Let's enjoy what others have written and not ask where Stephen is. They have been so kind to write and keep this blog alive for us. Let's not be greedy monkeys! Stephen will be back when he has time.
nancy
great update. thanks. nice to see a bum clad in the cdn flag running through the trails.
David from Paris, EU
Wow, another great update. Thank you very much Sabine, and all the Editorial Team, for letting us know more about the area around Haller Park... To Jackie : I hope you're having a nice trip in Thailand.
Dana from Long Island, New York
Thank you so much for continuing the blog! What a wonderful surprise to check in and find all of the new photos and and information!
Sue from Michigan USA
Great photos and interesting information! Thanks so much. Nice to meet you, Sabine. We appreciate your work.
jackie from switzerland
wonderful update / sabine nice to see you up close! looking so forward to the stephan and mzee update next week. Haller Park just keeps on getting more and more interesting. Regards to all of you from Bangkok.
Editorial team
Watch out for Stephen and news on Mzee Next week
Angela, Rogersville MO, USA
This looks like a wonderful place to go and enjoy nature; wish I could! Thank you for sharing it with us. The picture of the young boy on the merry go round is really good! His expression is pure joy - beautiful! Nice to put your face with your name Sabine! Thanks again, Angela
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Stephen's probably out chasing Owen around! Thanks for this post ... it really is like a wonder-filled mini-vacation. I wish we could all sit out on the Sunset Terrace and chat with Sabine about the challenges and pleasures of working at a place like Haller Park and of having the opportunties to spend real time with so many amazing beasts. It was good to see a real picture of Sabine -- the only other ones I remember were smallish (in Dr. Haller's book) or far off (moving away from Owen.) God bless you all!
oyama naku
it's great to see varied information regarding Haller Park. It's wonderful to meet THE BOSS! We truly appreciate everything and everyone, including the animals, insects, birds that comprise Haller Park and Lafarge Ecosystems. Thank you so much! The people behind all these are dedicated workers for the preservation of wild life. Would we ever hear from Stephen? We truly miss him!
Marie from Germany
Thank you so much for informing us, Sabine! What a wonderful job you have!
Cheryl from Canada
Go Canada! Wish I was there with you.
Jim from Mass USA
Thank you for the tour, Sabine ... it must be a wonderful place to spend a quiet afternoon ... will we hear from Stephen again soon?
 
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Stephen Tuei is the chief animal caretaker for Lafarge Eco Systems and has over 20 years of experience in handling wild animals.